With the weather turning cooler as we enter the autumn and winter months, Virgin Atlantic is bringing a few comforts onboard for passengers in all cabin classes. The airline has developed a new menu (launch on 2nd October) based around the theme of the seasonality and comfort of modern British cuisine, with a range of choices to suit any mood.
In Upper Class (business class), main course options include chicken and mushroom pie with a hint of truffle, pan roasted cod, or pumpkin girasoli (stuffed pasta), all made using premium ingredients. Virgin Atlantic’s pre-select service also gives Upper Class customers access to exclusive main course options such as roasted duck breast with potato gratin.
Brunch is also available on select flights departing the UK, with Upper Class choices including smashed avocado with poached egg on sourdough, a red velvet pancake stack with coconut cream, a berry compote and white chocolate granola, or a chicken and treacle beer bacon club sandwich.
The full menus for Economy, Premium and Upper Class are listed below.
The airline has also introduced a range of feel-good drinks in Upper Class to promote and support rest. A pre-sleep favourite might be the Three Spirit Nightcap, a non-alcoholic botanical drink with calming ingredients such as valerian root, passionflower, lemon balm, and ashwagandha, which can be enjoyed neat over ice or topped with ginger ale. Or perhaps the Trip Elderflower Mint Mindful Blend, a lightly sparkling beverage which combines a calming mix of magnesium, ashwagandha and L-theanine
Ready to start a busy day? You might like the Lo Bros Kombucha Raspberry & Lemon, a fresh-tasting drink containing millions of beneficial live cultures. Or perhaps the Perfect Ted Juicy Peach, an immunity-boosting blend of matcha green tea caffeine and a peach zing, for a boost of energy post-flight.
Virgin Atlantic has also brought in a new selection of wines in Upper Class. Whites include a 2022 Grillo Viognier Bio S.Tresa Rina Ianca, and a 2023 Diermersdal Cape Town Sauvignon Blanc South Africa. The red options are a 2022 Violet Hill Pinot Noir Oregon USA and a 2023 Primitivo di Manduria Corti Salentine DOC Italy, while the rosé option is a B corp certified and carbon-neutral 2023 Aubert et Mathieu, Palooza Rosé Pays d’Oc.
Elevated dining in premium economy
Culinary options in the Premium cabin include honey and mustard chicken with potato gratin, green beans and peas; Cumberland sausage with parsley mashed potatoes, root vegetables and madeira sauce; or Thai vegetable curry with chilli broccolini and vegetable dumplings.
Brunch is also available in this cabin, with options including buttermilk coated chicken with waffles, hot honey and pumpkin seeds; and baked egg with shakshuka and polenta chips.
Sweet and savoury Mile High Tea options are also available in Premium, as well as The Uncommon English Bubbly Rosé, a sparkling rosé wine from the Kent Downs in the UK.
Fabulous food in economy
Passengers travelling in Economy class can choose between sausage and colcannon mashed potato with gravy and braised red cabbage, or a tomato and mascarpone pasta dish with pesto and cheddar. Mile High Tea will also be served in economy, with two finger sandwiches and a warm scone with jam and clotted cream. Another new option in October, across Economy and Premium, is Lucky Saint, a non-alcoholic beer brewed in Bavaria for the popular UK brand.
Corneel Koster, Virgin Atlantic’s chief customer and operating officer commented, “It’s always exciting when we unveil a brand-new menu, in our mouth-watering culinary style. By combining seasonality and comfort with premium ingredients, we’re offering our customers an elevated in-flight dining experience to enjoy and indulge, while also recognising the importance of relaxation during travel. Feeling well-rested and cared for can make all the difference for our customers, whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime holiday or a business-as-usual trip.”
The feeling of wellness begins in the Heathrow lounge
The feel-good options don’t end there. Setting the right mood for a flight begins on the ground, so Virgin Atlantic’s flagship London Heathrow Clubhouse will now stock essential oil Roller Balls by Aromatherapy Associates. This quick form of aromatherapy simply involves rolling the formula onto your pulse points (on your wrists or behind your ears is recommended), then bringing your wrists towards your face and inhaling deeply to enjoy the benefits of the essential oil blend.
To celebrate the partnership with Virgin, Aromatherapy Associates therapists will be on hand in the Clubhouse on 3rd October to give Virgin Atlantic customers relaxing hand and arm massages using massage oils infused with bespoke essential oil blends. Customers can choose from two Roller Balls to take away with them: the Deep Relax Roller Ball is designed to help you to unwind and feel relaxed whilst on the go, while the De-Stress Mind Roller Ball is developed to create a feeling of calm and focus. A card with a QR code will also be available for customers to take away, directing them to guided breathwork exercises to help them achieve optimum relaxation.
Fitness lovers will also enjoy the latest feature in the London Heathrow Clubhouse. Virgin Atlantic has partnered with Peloton to introduce a Yoga Retreat where customers can enjoy their daily routines, meditate, or work up a sweat using strength and balance equipment. The Yoga Retreat will help customers wind down and relax in advance of their travels.
The menu options in full:
Upper Class
Starters:
- Lemon and chilli marinated prawns with baby gem, marie rose sauce, pickled celery and avocado puree
- Curried cauliflower soup with spiced crispy onions and coriander oil (v)
Main course options:
- Chicken and mushroom pie with a hint of truffle, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, greens and gravy
- Pan roasted cod with panang sauce, coconut rice, edamame and carrot and radish salad
- Pumpkin girasoli (stuffed pasta) with herb cream and pistachio mint pesto (v)
Pre-select options:
- Roasted duck breast with potato gratin, wilted winter greens, crispy onions and red wine jus
- Braised pork with a tuscan style tomato sauce, pappardelle pasta, baby courgette and pangrattato
- Mushroom pearl barley risotto with grilled king oyster mushroom, crispy capers, rocket and lemon oil (ve)
- Superfood salad, braised pineapple, quinoa, seaweed salad with sesame edamame, coriander and yuzu dressing (v)
Dessert options:
- Dark chocolate and morello cherry delice, vanilla cream and blackberry (v)
- Warm fig and polenta cake with orange syrup and fresh cream (v)
- British cheese plate (v): Blacksticks blue, coastal cheddar and melusine goat’s cheese with red onion chutney, grapes and walnuts
Other highlights
Extra bites:
- Warm scones, cinnamon with salted caramel and cranberry and orange with lemon curd served with clotted cream (v)
- Togarashi spiced smoked halloumi burger with baby gem, chipotle mayonnaise in a brioche bun (v)
- Crispy chicken bao buns with nahm jim sauce and spring onions
- British winter ploughman’s, chicken liver pate, shropshire blue, baby pear, pickled celery and candied walnuts with a mini baguette
Brunch options:
- Smashed avocado with poached egg on sourdough toast with a choice of bacon, hot smoked salmon or grilled halloumi
- Chicken and treacle beer bacon club sandwich with tomato chutney and pickled onions
- Red velvet pancake stack with coconut cream, berry compote and white chocolate granola (v)
Sides:
- Mango panna cotta with mango, mint and toasted coconut (v)
- Toasted banana bread with caramelised banana, mascarpone and toasted hazelnuts (v)
- Smoked salmon with beetroot crème fraiche, toasted rye and pea shoots
The Premium economy menu
Starter
- Caprese salad with rocket and pesto (v)
Main course options:
- Honey and mustard chicken with potato gratin, green beans and peas
- Cumberland sausage with parsley mashed potatoes, root vegetables and madeira sauce
- Thai vegetable curry with chilli broccolini and vegetable dumpling (v)
Dessert options:
- Lemon posset (v)
- British cheese plate: blacksticks blue and coastal cheddar with crackers and grapes (v)
Other highlights in Premium:
Mile High Tea (v)
- Finger sandwiches Dill and caper cream cheese with cucumber and spinach on turmeric bread and cheddar with chutney on malted bread
- Patisserie, raspberry and white chocolate choux and calamansi macaron
- Warm scone, clotted cream and strawberry jam
Or
Mile High Picnic
- Ranch chicken and rocket on white bread and cheddar with chutney on malted bread
- Savouries, cherry tomato, vintage cheddar and basil quiche and mini scotch egg
- Warm scone, clotted cream and strawberry jam
Brunch options:
- Buttermilk coated chicken with waffles, hot honey and pumpkin seeds
- Baked egg with shakshuka and polenta chips (v)
- Bacon potato cake with streaky bacon, poached egg, siracha ketchup and spinach
Side
- Caramel filled beignet with crème anglaise, cinnamon apple compote and fresh berries (v)
The Economy menu
Starter:
- Cucumber, tomato and carrot salad (v)
Main course options:
- Sausage and colcannon mashed potato with gravy and braised red cabbage
- Tomato and mascarpone pasta with pesto and cheddar (v)
Dessert options:
- Plant-based chocolate pot (ve)
- Cheddar cheese & crackers
Other highlights
Mile High Tea
- Finger sandwiches Dill and caper cream cheese with cucumber and spinach on white bread and cheddar with apricot chutney on malted bread
- Scone, jam and clotted cream
- Chocolate truffle
